Ramblings about children's books (and sometimes some other stuff) from author Barbara O'Connor

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Louisiana's Song

I just finished Louisiana's Song by my Smoky Mountain Soul Sister, Kerry Madden.

I have one word:

Disappointment.

Ha! Got ya!

Why am I disappointed?

Because there's only one more book in this beautiful trilogy about the Weems family.

I loved this book. I loved the characters. I loved the setting. I loved the voice. I loved the humor.

I've gotten to know Kerry a little bit online - and I can tell that her spirit shines right through in her writing. Also evident is her love of the beautiful Smoky Mountains that I consider my heart's home, her deep respect for the mountain traditions of family and music, and her admiration of her husband's Tennessee family who inspired these stories.

The main character, Livy Two, is just a great big bundle of spunk. How can you not love a girl who says things like: "I do not sleep when critical eavesdropping needs doing."

Or who tells the teacher that her sister is not at school because of "a sparkly migraine", "dragon flu", or a "close encounter with a water moccasin."

Or who calls someone a "know-nothing flap-jaw."

Louisiana's Song continues the story started in Gentle's Holler.

I can't wait till the third book, Jessie's Mountain, comes out in 2008.

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About Me

I'm a children's book author.
My latest book is Wish. Others include The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester, The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis, Greetings from Nowhere, How to Steal a Dog,and Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia. In addition to being a six-time winner of the Parents Choice Award, my awards include the Massachusetts Book Award, the South Carolina, Kansas, and South Dakota Children's Book Awards, School Library Journal Best Books, Bank Street College Best Books, and ALA Notables. I've had books on over 38 state reading award lists.